Managing your time and setting boundaries are something we talk about often here at VA Helper. Time management can be a virtual assistant’s best friend when they’re juggling multiple projects for several clients at a time. The better you manage your time, the easier things flow together, the more you get done, the happier everyone is at the end of a project.
This message on setting boundaries comes from Melissa over at TimeFreedomBusiness.com , and while she was talking more to those who are outsourcing and building a team, this sort of applies across the board to anyone who is working for themselves, working from home, or starting up any kind of business online or offline….
I agree with Melissa 100%, this is your business and you need to set your own personal boundaries so you’re not feeling all helter-skelter. You can’t make everyone happy all of the time, so the best thing you can do for yourself and your clients is to have those clear boundaries so everyone knows what to expect and when.
I agree that boundaries go both ways.
It’s an important and hard lesson for me to learn as a service provider. I do well as someone who hires contractors, but not so well sometimes when I choose a client.
When I am keeping myself focused, I do a lot better ensuring that I choose only clients who are ideal for me. But sometimes I make a mistake, this is especially true when I like the person offering me the position.
It’s no one’s fault if two business owners aren’t a match, it doesn’t mean one is doing something wrong, but it is our fault when we knowingly walk into a situation where we know our work styles are different.
Working with people who are a “match” for you can be important too. I’m sure we’ve all had times when we were working with a client with completely different working styles and outlooks. That can be frustrating sometimes. I know I’ve certainly had my share in the past. I found it helps to write things out to them and let them know exactly what to expect and when, but sometimes you just have to refer them on to another VA and get back into your own routine with a more compatible client.